We found this restaurant to be very disappointing. Voted "Best Italian Restaurant" in CT magazine was not the title this place deserves. Limited menu and very over priced for the portion sizes. I have been to much better Italian restaurants. Unfortuantely, Carbones was a disappointment.    [15 Feb 2004 19:37:37]

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     ­Anonymous   

Circo de Carbone's
After seeking a reasonably priced well-reviewed restaurant in the Hartford area to dine with friends, I settled upon Carbone's of Franklin Avenue. I was thoroughly disappointed. Heralded as the best restaurant in the state, Carbone's simply doesn't match its hype. Shrimp scampi, an appetizer cited on the menu as "serves 2" for $17.00 provided TWO shrimp. One shrimp per person! $16 for a salad, "serves 2" consisting of romaine plus a fancy dressing! This restaurant is extremely pricey for what it offers. The food was good, but at those prices it should be masterful and sensational. The menu was pathetically limited --- few fish or pasta choices. The service was poor, with the wait between appetizer and entree like waiting for godot, wondering whether the entree would ever arrive. Seventy minutes for a chicken entree on a WEDNESDAY??? Further, the "tableside preparation" theatrics are over-the-top. I can't imagine anyone being too impressed with someone making salad dressing at the table. And too much fireworks -- with flambees erupting every thirty seconds often with hair-raising consequences--- do the Gruccis have a piece in this action?
This was a real disappointment capped by the surliness of the wait staff.    [26 Apr 2002 15:24:45]

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     ­Anonymous   

Love it there
I have eaten at Carbones for over 25 years and have never once been disappointed with the service, food or atmosphere.    [15 Apr 2003 10:54:53]

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Recommended Dishes: Manzo Warnoff

     ­Anonymous   

Circo de Carbone's reviewer = McDonald's diner
I am a long time fan of Carbone's and can tell you that for traditional Italian fare, you won't find better anywhere. The service and atmosphere are exceptional. I have never had a bad dining experience at Carbone's and recommend it highly.    [31 Jul 2003 10:09:27]

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     ­Vinny   

Routine Italian stand-by
Carbone's is standard-fare, routine Italian food, some of it well prepared, but quite overpriced. And the atmosphere is pure tacky bad taste. Bring a flashlight so you can read the menu.    [07 Oct 2003 17:13:18]

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     ­Anonymous   

Long time tradition gone very bad
We've been going to this restaurant for years on Valentine's Day. We have forgiven the expensive menu in lieu of romantic tradition. This year was the last year. We had sub par waitstaff who were resentful of providing us with such a simple thing as a breadknife. Apparently it doesn't exist at Carbone's, who would have thought? When another butter knife was brought to us (we already had two) it was delivered with a slam on the table hard enough to make the whole table contents jump. My water glass had a cherry stem in it origins unknown. Disgusting. That too was an inconveience for the waitstaff. No appologies for cross contamination. Dinner took forever. The food was alright. The Chef is catagorically talented but I shouldn't have to worry about the service, cleanliness, or timeliness of my meal when doling out so much money. When we complained to the manager she was surly and absolutely unprofessional. She did not care that we were long time customers and the evening ended without even having a chance to order wine since no one was consistent enough to come back to the table after we had a problem. Luckily we went to Mozzicato's afterward to the evening wasn't a total disappointment. There are so many other talented chefs in Hartford, save your money for those who care about the total experience.    [27 Apr 2005 15:57:13]

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     ­Anonymous   

Utterly Disappointing
I must agree with those who found the food sub-standard and overpriced. Ranging from ordinary to poor. Atmosphere is garish, service is slow. Stay away unless you like paying dearly for bad food and tacky atmosphere.    [06 Jun 2006 22:10:27]

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     ­Anonymous   

Watch out !
With it being Taste of Hartford weekend, decided to try out the well-publicized Carbones, Now I don’t expect a participating restaurant to operate at a loss but, after the restaurant added a 20% gratuity and a simple request for “a glass of white wine” was filled without notice using the most expensive varietal, the advertised $20.07 plus gratuity and beverage price became $34 each. Plus, we had the feeling that a Taste customer was a pariah to the staff. Will we come back? No Carbones needs to rethink its participation in Taste.    [16 Aug 2007 08:08:15]

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     ­Anonymous